Ok, so I have searched and not come up with a clear answer, and it is very possible that I just missed it or didn't put in the right search descriptors. If that is the case, a link to the proper thread would be GREATLY appreciated.

Anyway, my question is this: I have a 1990 4Runner SR5 with the 3.0 in it with an automatic transmission currently in it. I want to do a 5 speed swap in the near future but wanted to know what tranny would be best suited, the R150 or R151. I have heard that the R151 can be used in both the 3.0 and 3.4, and later on down the road I would like to swap in the 3.4. But, I do NOT have the money for that right now, nor will I anytime soon. Opinions, facts, thoughts and, knowledge are most appreciated.

I do know that there are multiple build threads on how to do the swaps I just wanted to know some info on which transmission would be best in my scenario. Also, if I am way off on my transmission numbers then please correct me. This is my first Toyota and my first "real" truck (last vehicle was a Ford Focus) so I'm a little low on the knowledge of this vehicle. Thanks!

 

The only manual transmission you'll find behind a 3VZ-E or 5VZ-FE from the factory is the R150(2WD) or R150F(4WD). Which, I'm in agreement with Toyota on, is the manual transmission best suited for a 3VZ-E or 5VZ-FE.

The differences between an R150(F) and an R151F are:

1. The bellhousings. The R150(F) bolts to a V6(3VZ/5VZ), the R151F bolts to a 4 cyl.(22R-TE).
2. Unlike the R150, there is no 2WD version of the R151. Thus there's only an R151F, and there's actually no such thing as an R151.
3. The transfer cases. The R150F bolts to a chain drive(VF1A) transfer case, the R151F bolts to a gear drive(RF1A) transfer case.
4. The first and second gears are slightly lower in an R151F(4.313:1 & 2.330:1), than in an R150(F)(3.830:1 & 2.062:1).
5. The R151F is exceedingly rare in comparison to the R150(F). Since the R151F was only used for 2 years(86-87 in the U.S.). While the R150(F) was used for 17 years(88-05 in the U.S.).
6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_R_transmission

 

Consider MarlinCrawler for a helluva R150F....

 

Awesome, thanks for the info, MudHippy. I'll start scouting out for the R150F then since I certainly want to keep my 4 wheel drive abilities. TNRabbit, I'll check them out, thanks! Whenever I do get all the funding up I plan on posting some pics and a thread about it, mostly since I will definitely need some advice from time to time on that project.

 

you will want the R150F from 1988 thru 1995 for the shorter input shaft.
they are plentiful as said above and get as many of the accessories with it as money will allow, crossmembers and support brackets, shifters and rubber boots, console, transfer case, driveshafts (yes both).

here's some links.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...mplete-126323/

https://sites.google.com/site/wasted...nsmission-swap

http://therockgods.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9328

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...php?p=11186033

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=775780

 

i did a 5 speed swap on my 88 3vze...its so worth it, i have about 1000ish into the swap. On my swap thread, i have a list of most of what i got.

 

Thanks phildelfino! Yeah, I have been reading through your build thread MX, you have a sick looking, and by what I have read, sick running ride there. I've been trying to gather up a good "shopping list" so I can budget for it all.

 

Oh thanks man! Its a work in progress, im never done working on it. But anyways i love the 5 speed, its awesome for wheeling, plus almost 20mg city.

 

Yeah, I hear ya on the work in progress. I would have had more done to mine already but the first thing I had to do was a headgasket change... no bueno. But I REALLY want to do the 5spd swap for the gas mileage. That 4spd auto is downright dimwitted and ALWAYS in the wrong gear.

 

yea the mpg is awesome, but the best part is wheeling with it. A 5 speed is sooo fun on the trail! Even when i run into mud (mostly on the way to the good trails) the 5 speed is great. The auto think its smarter than me..i dont like that.

 

Lol, yeah mine doesn't seem to talk with the temp sensor or the O/D sensor because it is always a gear too high. It annoys me and destroys my MPG. Plus whenever I get ahold of new tires and a lift wheeling will be lots of fun :-D

 

yea mine wasnt that bad but i learned to wheel on it soooo i beat hard on it, and it began to slip so out it went.

 

I've been scouring ebay to try and get ahold of a decent R150F, found a guy wanting to get rid of the "transmission with transfer case off a 1993 Toyota 4X4 Pickup Extended Cab w/ 6 cylinder engine" I've been trying to gert messages to him to make sure its the right stuff, but once I get paid here, I might jump on that one. He only wants $250 for it. In the meantime, I am FINALLY getting my radio put in this weekend. I've only been without it since around the end of March. LOL.

 

That should be the right tranny, unless it's an automatic~

EDIT: just saw it; I'm pretty certain that's an R150F.

 

You probably don't want to do that. Not because it isn't what you're looking for, because it is. But that price is pretty steep for a used transmission and transfer case, IMO. The $250 isn't so bad(it's pretty good actually), but factor in you're going to have to pay almost twice that amount just for shipping. Then it becomes a RIDICULOUS amount to pay for them, IMO(I paid $150 for my used R150F w/105k miles a few years ago).

I went ahead and calculated the shipping for your zip code.
http://shiptrack.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...d=251057112431

$250 + $454.86 = $704.86

I also went ahead and checked car-part.com for you too. And what do you know? There's a page full of used R150s in NC, and half a page full of VF1As in NC. Which, if you went and picked them up yourself, you could buy one of each and still be well under $700 including gas money(unless you were going to go out of your way to spend more than that much).

 

Wow, thanks MudHippy. It didn't even occur to me to check the shipping costs... oops. I'm looking around the car-part.com page now. Thanks for saving my tail on that one. I definitely owe you there!